In case you have missed the press. Apple announced not one but two new models of the iPhone as well as new version of the iOS operating system found on iPhones and iPads.
- iPhone 5S which features more modes of LTE and a fingerprint scanner built into the home button
- iPhone 5C which is a lower-cost iPhone with a plastic case
- iOS 7 which features a new look that is a departure from past iOS looks
Of course this raises a question we are commonly asked. Which is way should I go…iPhone or Android.
We typically share these views…
- Does your company use software that has apps that favor Android or iPhone? Even if the app is available on both platforms they not be quite exactly the same. There will be subtle and sometimes not so subtle differences between platforms for a given app.
- Is your staff more technically inclined. The iPhone just seems easier for people who are not as technically inclined. We tend to find that engineer-types are attracted to the Android OS and sales-types are lean more towards the iPhone. It is not necessarily that one is smarter than another. Some just prefer to tinker and customize more than others.
- If you have a large staff the iPhone seems to be easier to manage. The largest reason is that iPhones have more longevity. You can generally install the latest iOS on the last two or three versions of the iPhone or more. Android phones tend to have shorter model life spans. iOS updates are also dictated by Apple and are available across platforms at the same time. Android phones may or may not be able to install new updates to Android, and many times it is dictated by the carrier.
- Support for an i-device is generally easier. From our personal experience we can typically more quickly walk a user through a setting change more rapidly on an iOS powered device than Android. Every carrier and/or manufacture makes slight changes to Android. Our engineers and technicians do keep both devices nearby as reference during support calls to answer questions. We know the iOS device will exactly the same as the device in our hand.
The new iPhones will be available on September 20th. Current iPhone users can download and upgrade their iOS to version 7 beginning on September 18th.